Myth or Truth?
1. GMOs Are Harmful to the Environment
It is a common assumption that genetically modified crops are only detrimental to the environment. While it is true that the mixing of GMOs with non-GMO crops can lead to negative effects, it is a large overgeneralization to say that GMOs are completely harmful. In fact, many crops are genetically modified specifically to benefit the environment. For example, commodity crops such as soy and corn that have been genetically modified are actually better for soil health as they require less tilling. This reduction in tilling reduces soil loss, erosion, and runoff of fertilizer that is common for crops that require a large amount of tilling. Pest-resistant GMOs are also a large way that farmers reduce their use of pesticides, meaning that there is less pollution from harmful pesticides. In addition, cotton, corn, and eggplant are only a few of the many crops that have been made pest-resistant, which all work to help both the environment and improve human health (more on this later). Not only do pest-repellant GMO crops help the environment by reducing the need for pesticides, they also help with crop yield, which ensures that less resources are used and more crops are produced, helping to decrease the price of many crops and increase food accessibility.
In fact, genetically modified crops have…
- Reduced chemical pesticide use by 37%
- Increased crop yields by 22%
- Reduced CO2 emission by 27 billion kg
2. GMOs Are Unsafe to Consume
Another common misconception that the general public believes about GMOs is that they are generally unsafe to eat. However, this assumption has been disproved numerous times, by a variety of different government-funded projects. While it is important to note the relative modernity of advanced types of GMOs, as well as the comparably lacking research behind it, so far it has not been proven that GMOs are unsafe to consume. According to the National Academies of Science as well as a variety of US regulatory agencies, GMO crops are no more dangerous to consume than organic, natural crops. In fact, many GMO crops have been genetically modified to be more nutritious, a good example being golden rice, which can act as a remedy for blindness due to the large amount of Vitamin A that they have been genetically modified to contain. Overall, while it is generally recommended to be conscientious about what one consumes, it is also necessary to be educated on what statistics behind GMO crops are.
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There has been “no substantial evidence of a difference in risks to human health between current commercially available genetically engineered crops and conventionally bred crops.” –study done by The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS)
3. GMOs are “Unnatural”
What many people do not realize is that humans have been modifying their crops and animals for tens of thousands of years. A majority of organizations protesting against GMOs often rally under the idea that GMOs are “unnatural,” and that natural crops should be left completely alone. However, what many people do not realize and do not take into account is that cross breeding of crops and animals have happened since the earliest ages of humans, and that people are very used to picking and choosing what traits that people want in their crops or animals.
4. Non-GMO Means 100% Organic
When people see the non-GMO label, they automatically assume that every aspect of the crop or that product is 100% GMO free, and that everything is organic. However, this is oftentimes not true, as it is quite uncommon for every aspect of a product’s creation to be completely GMO-free. In fact, the definition of a non-GMO label on your products is that the food product contains less than 1% of genetically modified foods and ingredients. This does not mean that it is completely free of GMOs. Furthermore, livestock, poultry, beef and seafood feed can include 5% of GMOs in their products and still be labeled non-GMO, which is intentionally misleading to anyone who picks up a product and wishes for a GMO-free meal. In fact, non-GMO products are marked up in price, but still contain trace amounts of GMOs, meaning that people are paying more but being intentionally misled.
These are a few myths about GMOs that have been constantly disproven. It’s incredibly important to learn exactly what foods we eat, and to make informed decisions without any false untruths making GMOs seem something they are not. While researching about the foods you eat is so important, it is equally important to ensure that the information you consume is factually correct!